New research suggesting that sleep deprivation can lead to changes in our
genes is the latest addition to growing evidence that insufficient sleep is
linked to myriad problems ranging from sugar cravings and weight gain, to
high blood pressure and an early grave. Add in numerous reports suggesting
that we are a nation of insomniacs struggling to get the sleep we need and
you have a toxic combination that doesn’t bode well for public health. But
all may not be quite as it seems.

I don’t dispute that sleep deprivation is bad for your health, but I remain to
be